Carton pouring spout



April 16, 1963 M. BORD 3,085,732

CARTON POURING SPOUT Filed Aug. 8, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N V EN TOR Mar 50 0 14 7 WMEYS April 16, 1963 M. BORD CARTON POURI'NG SPOU'I' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 8, 1960 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,085,732 CARTON POURING SPOUT Max Bord, 3835 Sedgewiclr Ave., Bronx, N.Y. Filed Aug. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 48,033 2 Claims. (ill. 229-47) This invention relates to cartons and similar types of containers with pouring and dispensing spouts, used in the packaging of substances which are susceptible of being poured through such dispensing spouts.

It more particularly relates to an improved form of a dispensing and pouring spout which is an integral part of paper or paperboard cartons and similar containers.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of an improved dispensing spout construction in a carton of the character described above which has marked advantages over prior art pouring spouts from a constructional and utilitarian point of view.

It is an object of this invention to provide in combina tion, a carton and pouring spout which may be assembled with greater efiiciency and facility. This efliciency is achieved by virtue of the design of the carton and spout of this invention which enables said spout to be formed in all respects at the place and at the time the carton is being die cut and prior to shipment to the party that assembles and fills the carton. This is made possible by the fact that the spout can be formed in all respects prior to assembly of the carton and the fact that the carton can be shipped flat after the spout is formed. Spouts of the prior art had to be formed at the time and place where the carton was assembled because certain necessary operations in their formation could not be done until the carton was assembled and because they could not be economically shipped after assembly. Such spout formation at this point of carton assembly requires machinery and operations which make such prior art spouts impractical from an economic standpoint.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from an examination of the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention showing a fragmentary View of a carton with the pouring spout in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 1, on the line IIII thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 with the pouring spout in the open position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 3, on the line IVIV thereof;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of the carton blank used in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 14;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modification in the carton blank usable in the embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a carton blank of another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of a carton blank of still another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of a carton blank having another feature of this invention; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of the assembled carton formed from the FIG. 8 blank showing an external closure over the spout.

Referring noW to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, the number 20 refers generally to a carton which may be made in any desired size and of any conventional material. The particular carton shown in FIG. 5 has two wide sides 21, 22. and two intermediate narrow sides 23, 24 alternately disposed. When the box is assembled as depicted in FIG. 1, the narrow sides are in parallel planes opposite each other, and are perpendicular to the two large sides 21, 22 which are also disposed in opposing parallel planes. The flap 25, adjoining side 23 overlaps the wide side 22. Said flap 25 is used to aifix side 23 to side 22 when the carton blank 20a is assembled. Usually an adhesive material is placed on flap 22 which will effect a seal, but other convenient means for affixing flap 25 to side 22 such as stapling may be used.

Each of the respective Sides of said carton blank 20a have flaps hingedly attached to each of said sides. Thus, said carton blank 20a, has two'large flaps 26, 27 and two small flaps 28, 29 disposed as indicated on sides of corresponding lengths; flap 27 adjoins side 22, flap 28 adjoins side 24, flap 26 adjoins side 21, and flap 29 adjoins side 23. Large flap 27 is provided with a flap 30 to which an adhesive material is applied, and which is used to aflix said flap 27 to side 23 when said carton blank 20a is assembled.

The flaps 26, 27, and 28 are folded over, in the usual manner when the box is assembled. Flap 28 is folded over first, then flaps 26 and 27 are folded over, to lie in a common plane superimposed on flap 28. Thus, in the assembled carton 20, the flap 28 is at the bottom, over which flaps 26 and 27, respectively, are superimposed and affixed together with conventional adhesive means. Flap 29 is folded down into the plane of side 23 and attached thereto.

A pouring spout flap 31 is cut out of flap 26 before assembling carton blank 20a. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, a portion of said spout flap 31 is also cut from said small flap 29. Spout flap 31 is hingedly connected to said small flap 29 along the hinge line 32.

Spout flap 31 is scored and bent along lines 33 and 34 forming hinges at those places, Which lines thus form and define side walls 35, 36 of the pouring spout generally referred to as 37. A floor 38 of said spout 37 is situated between said side walls 35 and 36.

Extensions 39 and 40, disposed at the extremes of the side walls 35, 36 are stop members, the function of which will be described below.

Small flap 29 is provided with a rectangular aperture 41 whose size is equal to that of the floor 38 of spout 37.

The location of said aperture 41 is such that it will be:

congruent with said floor 38 when said spout flap 31 is bent along its hinge 32 and superimposed upon the outside surface of said small flap 29.

Said spout flap 31 is folded as indicated above. Small flap 29 is folded inwardly along its hinge line 42 and is superimposed upon the interior surface of side 23. Spout flap 31 and small flap 29 are then aflixed to side 23 by adhesive or by a staple 290 as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

Side 23' is provided with a rectangular wall aperture 43 in juxtaposition with the aperture 41 and the floor 38 of the spout 37. Integral with side 23 and cut from the aperture 43 is a cover flap 44 fitting in said aperture 43. Flap 44 is hingedly connected to side 23 along hinge line 45. Flap 44 may also be provided with an integral tab 46 which the operator may use to open the flap 44 without interfering with the complete closing of the flap 44 when the spout is not in use.

The floor 38 of said spout 37 is affixed to the cover flap 44 by adhesive or by staple 37a shown in FIGS. 1-4. The size of the cover flap 44 is somewhat larger than that of aperture 41. This will prevent an operator pushing the cover flap 44 into the box, which would render the pouring spout inoperative. This also serves to seal all sides of the spout when in closed position.

In order to operate the spout, one grasps the tab 46 and pulls the flap 44 and spout 37 outward to its fullyoutwardly disposed position, which places the spout at an angle of approximately from its closed position and presents the maximum opening that is possible with the closure out of the path of the opening. The extensions 39 and 40 of side walls 35 and 36 are stopping members which engage the top rim of the aperture 41 when said spout is in its fully opened position. Said extensions 39 and 40 thus prevent one from pulling the spout 37 entirely out of the carton 20, rendering it inoperative.

The salient feature of this embodiment of the invention is that the spout 37 may be cut out, bent and afiixed to the small flap 29 and to the cover flap 44 prior to the assemblying or setting up of the carton 20. This makes it feasible to form the spout subsequent to cutting the carton blank but prior to shipping this blank flat to the party who assembles and fills it. This vastly improves the overall assembling process, and results in greater speed, efiiciency and economy in the overall production and use of cartons. Further, the spout is formed from within the confines of the blank thus economizing on material.

Referring to FIG. 6, a modification in the design of the primary embodiment of the invention is depicted. In this design the spout flap 31b is cut entirely from the large flap 26b. The extension members 39b and 40b are of a slightly different configuration. The carton blank 20b is assembled in the same fashion as that of carton 20a of the primary embodiment described above. The extension members 39b and 4% function by camming against the rim of the aperture 41b, preventing further opening of the spout 37b when it is approximately 90 away from its closed position. The cover flap 44b of this modification has a tab 46b which is hingedly connected and fits into said flap 44b as indicated in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of this invention is depicted. The carton blank 50 has conventional configuration: two large sides 51, 52 and two small sides 53, 54 alternately disposed, together with flaps 55 and 56 to which an adhesive is applied and which serve to hold the assembled carton together. Flap 55 joins side 54 to side 52. Flap 56 joins side 54 to flap 57. Hingedly adjoining each side are large flaps 57, 58 and small flaps 59 and 60.

The terminal portion of small flap 60 is cut to form a spout flap 61. Hinges 62, 63 of said spout flap 61 are fashioned by scoring and bending along lines 62, 63. A spout 64 is thus formed from spout flap 61 and comprises two side walls 65, 66 and a floor 67. Extension members 68, 69 are formed at the extreme corners of the side walls 65, 66.

A score line is made at 69 and 70. The entire spout flap 61 is folded along line 70 and is superimposed upon the outer surface of said small flap 60. A rectangular aperture 71 is cut in said small flap 60, in juxtaposition wi$ the floor 67 of said spout 64 and congruent there- W1 The small flap 60 is folded inwardly and is superimposed upon the interior surface of side 54. The small flap 60 is afiixed to side 54.

Side 54 is provided with a rectangular wall aperture 72 in juxtaposition with said floor 68 of said spout 64 and said aperture 71. Wall aperture 72 is provided with a cover flap 73 which is hingedly connected to the base of said wall aperture 72 and said cover flap 73 is affixed to the floor 68 of said spout 64. This cover flap 73 is somewhat larger than aperture 71.

The spout 64 functions in a manner similar to that described earlier with respect to the primary embodiment, the line 69 providing the hinged connection on which line the spout 64 pivots as it functions.

The construction of the embodiment just described permits the atfixing of the floor 68 of said spout 64 to the cover flap 73, and the small flap 60 to the side 54 before the carton blank is assembled. As in the primary embodiment, this permits formation of the spout prior to assembly of the carton with its consequent advantages.

In this embodiment flap 56 may be lengthened to cover the spout 64 when assembled to thus provide a seal extending over the spout prior to initial use of the assembled carton and spout.

FIG. 8 depicts a carton blank of still another embodiment of this invention incorporating the constructional and utilitarian advantages described earlier. In this em bodiment, the spout is cut from the central portion of the small flap 8'1. Score lines are made, as shown at 82, 83 and 84. Line 82 defines a hinge upon which the actual functioning of the spout 80 depends. Lines 83 and 84 define hinges which in turn form side walls 85, 86 and floor 87 of spout 80. Extension members 88 and 89 are formed in spout 80 when said spout is cut from the flap 81.

Flap 81 is folded inwardly along line 90 and superimposed and affixed to side 91. There is cut in side 91, a rectangular aperture 92 in which fits a cover flap 93 which is hingedly connected to the bottom of said aperture 90 at hinge line 94. Hinge line 94 is in juxtaposition and parallel with the hinge line 82 of said spout 80, and the aperture 92 is likewise in juxtaposition with the floor 87 of said spout 80.

The floor 87 of said spout 80 is affixed to the cover fiap 93 and the carton is assembled in the conventional manner. The cover flap 91 may also be provided with a tab 95 to facilitate opening of the spout 80. The said spout 8% functions in a manner similar to that described above for the other embodiments of this invention and pivots on hinge line 82 from its closed to its fully open position, at an angle of approximately 90 relative to said closed position.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show another feature of the present invention which can be used with any of the embodiments thereof. Referring to FIG. 9 a closure flap 96 is cut adjacent the large side 52 which, when the carton is as sembled, as shown in FIG. 10, folds over and is attached around its periphery to the small side containing the spout to cover the spout and thus seal it prior to use. When the user desires to open the spout for the first time he simply removes the serrated portion 97 in the flap 96 to thus expose the spout for use. Further, in this embodiment flap 96a replaces fiap 56 in the FIG. 7 embodiment and provides for assembling the top of the box in the ordinary manner using flap 96a and 59in the ordinary manner to support superimposed flaps 57, 58. Still further, if flap 96 is extended the full height of the carton then the carton can be assembled without need for flap 55.

It will be appreciated that the spout of this invention can be formed in the large as well as the small side of the carton in the same manner as described above if the manufacturer desires such a spout placement to permit a larger size thereof or for any other reason. It will also be appreciated that the spout in the assembled carton may be sealed with an ordinary wax paper overlay to prevent the penetration of contaminants prior to first use.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In combination, a paper carton and pouring spout, said paper carton having alternately two large and two small flaps on one end thereof, said large flaps being superimposed upon the first of said small flaps, a portion of the second of said small flaps being cut out therefrom defining an inner aperture, a portion of one of said large flaps closest to said second small flap being cut out from said large flap and defining a spout flap, said spout flap hingedly connected to and forming an integral part of said second small flap, said spout flap being folded over to be attached to the said second small flap, said spout flap being bent to form a spout having a floor and two side walls, said floor hingedly connected to said spout flap, said second small flap folded down against and attached to a wall of said paper carton, said wall having an aperture and a cover flap fitting in said wall aperture and hingedly connected to an edge of said aperture, said wall aperture in juxtaposition to said spout and said hinge of said spout in juxtaposition to the hinge of said cover flap and said floor of said spout attached to said cover flap such that said spout may be moved into open and closed position through said inner and wall apertures.

2. A pouring spout for a paper carton having alternately two large and two small flaps on one end thereof, said large flaps being superimposed upon the first of said small flaps, a portion of the second of said small flaps being cut out therefrom, defining an inner rectangular aperture, a portion of one of said large flaps closest to said second small flap being cut out from said large flap and defining a spout flap, said spout flap hingedly connected to and forming an integral part of said second small flap, said spout flap being folded over to be superimposed upon and attached to the outer surface of said second small flap, said spout flap being bent to form a spout having a floor and two side walls, said floor being hingedly connected to said spout flap, said second small flap being folded down against and attached to the inside wall of said paper carton to which said second small flap is hingedly connected, said wall having a rectangular wall 1,683,116 Wood Sept. 4, 1928 20 2,701,678 Read Feb. 8, 1955 2,742,220 Lynes Apr. 17, 1956 aperture and a cover flap fitting in said wall aperture and hingedly connected to an edge of said aperture, said wall aperture in juxtaposition with said spout and said hinge of said spout in juxtaposition with the hinge of said cover flap such that said spout may be moved into open and closed position through said inner and wall apertures, said floor of said spout attached to said cover flap, said wall aperture larger than the said aperture of said second small flap, integral extensions on the side walls of said spout, said extensions comprising stop members which cam against the perimeters of said rectangular apertures when said spout is swung out to about 90 into the open position, a tab for said cover flap and spout, said tab being an integral portion of said outer rectangular flap and partly cut therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN COMBINATION, A PAPER CARTON AND POURING SPOUT, SAID PAPER CARTON HAVING ALTERNATELY TWO LARGE AND TWO SMALL FLAPS ON ONE END THEREOF, SAID LARGE FLAPS BEING SUPERIMPOSED UPON THE FIRST OF SAID SMALL FLAPS, A PORTION OF THE SECOND OF SAID SMALL FLAPS BEING CUT OUT THEREFROM DEFINING AN INNER APERTURE, A PORTION OF ONE OF SAID LARGE FLAPS CLOSEST TO SAID SECOND SMALL FLAP BEING CUT OUT FROM SAID LARGE FLAP AND DEFINING A SPOUT FLAP, SAID SPOUT FLAP HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO AND FORMING AN INTEGRAL PART OF SAID SECOND SMALL FLAP, SAID SPOUT FLAP BEING FOLDED OVER TO BE ATTACHED TO THE SAID SECOND SMALL FLAP, SAID SPOUT FLAP BEING BENT TO FORM A SPOUT HAVING A FLOOR AND TWO SIDE WALLS, SAID FLOOR HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID SPOUT FLAP, SAID SECOND SMALL FLAP FOLDED DOWN AGAINST AND ATTACHED TO A WALL OF SAID PAPER CARTON, SAID WALL HAVING AN APERTURE 